- -Broadband service prepares vessels to meet growing data requirements-
BETHESDA, MD, Sept. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has been selected by Reederei Claus-Peter Offen (CP Offen) to provide Inmarsat FleetBroadband airtime services for its entire fleet of 122 commercial vessels.
CP Offen, based in Hamburg, is one of the world's largest suppliers of modern commercial ships, including 122 container vessels, tankers and bulkers. CP Offen vessels are chartered by all of the world's largest operators.
By ensuring reliable broadband connectivity at sea, FleetBroadband from Stratos will help CP Offen vessels achieve optimal performance, improved business operations and increased crew productivity.
On the CP Offen fleet, Stratos is fully integrating FleetBroadband with AmosConnect - its sophisticated maritime communications application - to improve management of all interoffice communications. The integrated Stratos offering also improves crew welfare by deploying AmosConnect with Stratos ChatCards. The crew-communications solution enables personnel at sea to stay in contact with home via calling and private email at affordable, flat global rates. The solution's high functionality helps retain qualified seafarers by providing an easily manageable, separate account for each crewmember.
"Moving to FleetBroadband from Stratos ensures our vessels can benefit from the most advanced business and crew applications, while meeting the growing demand for bandwidth, in a highly cost-effective manner," said Ascan Roosen, Head of CP Offen's IT Department. "Stratos is providing excellent service and is acting as a true partner in this important technology conversion."
Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, "We are grateful for the opportunity to provide CP Offen with our reliable FleetBroadband airtime services and maritime applications expertise. Our proven solutions will help these vessels meet all of the communications requirements of today's most demanding shipmanagers."
Stratos' more than 9,000 FleetBroadband activations encompasses all geographic regions and vessel types, from customers including Wallem Shipmanagement, Albacora Group, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, Varun Shipping Co., MISC Berhad, MPC Steamship and the Royal Netherlands Navy.
Stratos deployments of FleetBroadband for many of the world's largest shipping companies include The Stratos Advantage services to ensure the highest FleetBroadband performance, security and cost control. They are comprised of:
- The online Stratos Dashboard, for cost and traffic control, firewall management and many other benefits.
- AmosConnect, Stratos' sophisticated communications application, to manage all interoffice communications.
- Stratos' new AmosConnect Crew CommCenter that enables seafarers to stay in contact with home via calling, private email and SMS at affordable, flat global rates - while enjoying true onboard Internet café features, such as prepaid chatting, prepaid web browsing and access to global and local news services.
- Stratos ChatCards for crew calling, which contribute to crew satisfaction by providing easy billing and ordering.
FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides an optimal data connection for many other onboard applications, including planned maintenance systems, purchase systems and remote management - which allows headquarters personnel to manage the ship's computers without visiting the vessel.
Stratos customers also use FleetBroadband for engine-performance analysis and emissions monitoring, to help reduce fuel costs and comply with emissions regulations.
About FleetBroadband from Stratos
FleetBroadband from Stratos provides cost-effective, high-speed data and
voice communications - available simultaneously - at speeds up to
432kbps. FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides on-demand guaranteed
IP data rates, regardless of the vessel's location.
FleetBroadband also helps Stratos continue to provide ship managers with innovative crew-communications solutions, to support the recruitment and retention of well-trained seafarers.
Communications managers have discovered that FleetBroadband from Stratos can be rapidly deployed across an entire fleet and, as a standard IP service, seamlessly integrated with head-office networks. Terminals operate globally and the user interface is standard across all products. FleetBroadband from Stratos supports any IP service, as well as traditional circuit-switched voice and ISDN data for legacy applications. Terminal costs are relatively low and the network supports all the latest security protocols.
Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos' industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes Iridium OpenPort, maritime VSAT services and Inmarsat XpressLink - which combines FleetBroadband with VSAT to provide a highly flexible migration path toward Inmarsat's Global Xpress services.
In addition to offering The Stratos Advantage services, Stratos works with application partners to deliver broadband business solutions in key maritime business areas. These solutions include voyage management, remote management, IT management and cargo management, which help reduce fuel and operations costs and improve crew and customer satisfaction. Those seeking more information on FleetBroadband from Stratos can contact their Stratos account manager or visit www.thepowerofmobilebroadband.com.
About Reederei Claus-Peter Offen
Reederei Claus-Peter Offen, founded in 1971, is based in Hamburg and is
one of the world's largest suppliers of modern container ship tonnage.
The Company has 122 container vessels, tankers and bulkers in service
or currently under construction - most of which are chartered under
long-term contract to leading shipping lines. The vessels are employed
in worldwide service. The Company employs approximately 4,000 persons.
For more information, please visit www.offenship.de.
About Stratos
Stratos is the world's trusted leader for vital communications. Stratos
offers the most powerful and extensive portfolio of remote
communications solutions including mobile and fixed satellite and
microwave services. More than 20,000 customers use Stratos products and
industry-leading value-added services to optimize communications
performance. Stratos serves U.S. and international government,
military, first responder, NGO, oil and gas, industrial, maritime,
aeronautical, enterprise, and media users on seven continents and
across the world's oceans. Stratos is a wholly owned subsidiary of
Inmarsat plc. For more information, visit www.stratosglobal.com.
SOURCE Stratos Global Corporation
